The Middle East: war in the Gulf

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Following Saddam Hussein's invasion and annexation of Kuwait, the United States launched a coalition-led offensive aimed at countering Iraqi territorial aggression. In the regional power shift that ensued, America's role in reshaping the politics of the region gave rise to speculation about the possibility of democratization in Middle East. Two weeks after the beginning of Operation Desert Storm, Peter Krogh sits down to discuss the implications of the conflict with future Secretary of State Madeline Albright, former Ambassador Winston Lord, and Foreign Policy magazine editor William Maynes. The panel discusses the war's impact on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, its effect on the balance of power in the region, and the precise meaning of President George H.W. Bush's proclaimed "new world order". Obstacles to regional democracy as well as American long-term commitments to economic development and security in the region are also discussed.